Jerry Greenfield, one-half of the Ben and Jerry’s ice cream guys, stopped at the Issaquah Highlands’s store Sept. 13 to push for approval of Initiative 522.

The initiative, which is on the November ballot, would require mandatory labeling of food made with genetically modified organisms. GMO’s are organisms that have had their genetic makeup, or DNA, altered through genetic engineering in a way that does not occur in nature or through traditional cross-breeding methods.

Washington is the only state with an initiative on the November’s ballot that would require mandatory labeling of food made with genetically modified organisms. If I-522 passes, the state would join Connecticut and Maine in doing so.

Opponents of I-522 argue it will be expensive and hurt farmers. Greenfield said that’s absurd because food companies are always going through labeling changes. He said 1-522 is simply about telling consumers what is in the food they are thinking of purchasing and eating.

“It’s about being transparent,” Greenfield said. “If GMO is in the food, let people know.”

Ben and Jerry’s ice cream does not contain any GMOs. Greenfield said the price of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream will not go up because of the labeling.

Elizabeth Larter, communications director with I-522, said the initiative would require most foods in grocery stores to be labeled, including genetically modified salmon. Larter said Alaska passed a regulation in 2005 that requires fish to be labeled if it is farmed or fresh.

Luke Esser, a former Republican legislator from Bellevue and a consultant for I-522, was at the event and called the measure “a populist measure, not political.”

Neighbors came out to meet Greenfield, while the owner of the Issaquah Highlands Ben and Jerry’s, Sen. Mark Mullet, was enjoying a casual day in jeans and a T-shirt, while treating everyone to a free scoop of the flavor of their choice. Mullet said he knew Greenfield was in the state, so asked him to come to the store.